Malaysia secures 12.8 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, delivery from first quarter

The deal is expected to cover 6.4 million Malaysians, or 20 percent of the population, with another 10 percent to be covered under Malaysia’s participation in the global COVAX facility, backed by the World Health Organization.

Malaysia is expected to receive its first Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer in the first quarter of 2021 after signing a deal for 12.8 million doses from the U.S. manufacturer, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Friday.

A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Coronavirus Covid-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of displayed Pfizer logo. (Reuters)

The deal is expected to cover 6.4 million Malaysians, or 20 percent of the population, with another 10 percent to be covered under Malaysia’s participation in the global COVAX facility, backed by the World Health Organization.

Pfizer has agreed to deliver the first one million doses in the first quarter of 2021, with 1.7 million doses, 5.8 million and 4.3 million to follow in subsequent quarters, Muhyiddin said.

The vaccination programme would prioritise “high-risk groups... including frontliners, senior citizens, and those with non-communicable diseases, such as heart diseases, diabetes,” he said during a televised news conference.

The Pfizer vaccine still requires approvals from regulator including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Malaysia’s Health Ministry before it can be distributed, Muhyiddin said.